Chartered Accountancy: A Prestigious & Rewarding Profession

Chartered Accountancy: As a Profession

CA is a prestigious, responsible and rewarding profession. It imparts the best combination of theoretical knowledge, practical experience with analytical as well as technical skill to look after the entire operations and management of the modern business organization. At present there has been rapid transformation in the scope of Chartered Accountants. Globalization, liberalization and revolution in information technology have totally changed not only the scope of CAs in financial reporting but also other many areas.

Chartered Accountants, today hold top management position in public as well as private sector. By dint of professional qualification and specialized knowledge, the Chartered Accountants are rendering various types of consultancy services like formulation of profit planning programme, guiding the managerial decisions, feasibility studies, investment proposals, tax management consultants and so on. Apart from the traditional work of per forming various types of audit, many CAs are serving private and public sectors in the capacity of Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director, Finance Director, Chief Operating Officer, Internal Auditor etc. There is a sustained demand for qualified, trained and experienced Chartered Accountants day by day. Chartered Accountants are also holding key position in Government sector. Having vast and specialized knowledge in financial matter their services are recognized by the Government, Public as well as Private sector leading to placement at various level in the f i eld of accounting and management functions. Rapid changes in economy brought by globalization have further opened opportunities to the Chartered Accountants for many challenging and rewarding career options. Due to the increasing demand for their services, the average earning/ remuneration packages of Chartered Accountants has also steadily increased.

Association with International Professional Bodies

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nepal (ICAN) is the member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the Confederation of Asia and Pacific Accountants (CAPA) and the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA).

Chartered Accountancy Course:

CA course is challenging. Based on distance learning module, it involves in depth theoretical education and practical training imparting sound analytical and problem solving skills to the students.

The course is divided into:

CAP - I - Six Months.

CAP - II - Nine Months.

CAP -III - Three Years (including practical training).

How to become a Chartered Accountant?

After taking the course offered by the Institute passing its final examination and acquiring three years practical training, one can become a Chartered Accountant and member of the Institute.

Chartered Accountancy Professional-I Level:

This is basically for the students willing to enter in the professional CA course immediately after completion of higher secondary education (10+2, PCL, A Level or equivalent) The duration of CAP-I Level Course is one year.

Eligibility Criteria

Graduates/Post Graduates who have scored less than 50% in commerce and less than 60% in faculty other than Commerce and thus were ineligible to register directly in CAP-II Course (see CAP- II Level registration criteria).

Provisional Registration

Students those appeared for the final exam of +2 or PCL or equivalent and waiting their result may register their names provisionally.

The Fee Structure:

The total fee for the CAP-I Level course is Rs. 27,500.00. It can be paid fully at the time of registration or also on Installment basis.

Rs. 15,000.00 at the time of Registration and

Balance Rs. 12,500.00 within 3 months from the date of registration. The fee structure may changed on need basis by the Council.

The Course:

The CAP-I level comprises 3 papers follows:

Paper 1

Fundamentals of Accounting

100 Marks

Paper 2

Mercantile Laws and Fundamentals of Economics

100 Marks

Paper 3

Fundamentals of Management and Commercial Mathematics and Statictics

100 Marks

Eligibility Test:

To be eligible to write final examination of the CAP-I Level, students are required to pass Eligibility Test as prescribed by ICAN.

Registration deadline:

The Summer Examination is held in the first week of June and Winter Examination in the first week of December every year. For appearing in Summer Examination, the registration must be completed on or before the end of November of preceeding year and for Winter Examination, on or before the end of May of the year. There should be time interval of at least Six Months between registration and appearance of the CAP-I Level Examination.

What after Completion of CAP-I ?

After successful completion of the CAP-I Level, students shall enroll to the CAP-II Course.

Chartered Accountancy Professional - II Level:

Eligibility Criteria:

Passed the CAP-I Level Examination, or

Be a Graduate or Post Graduate in Commerce, Business Administration or Management having secured a minimum of 50% aggregate marks, or

Be a Graduate or Post Graduate in other than (ii) above with a minimum of 60% aggregate marks.

Provisional Registration:

Students those appeared for the above mentioned final exam may register their names provisionally.

The Fee Structure:

The total fee for the CAP-II level course is NPR 32,000.00. It can be paid fully at the time of registration or also on Installment basis. The fee structure may changes on need basis by the Council.

Rs 17,500.00 at the time of Registration and

Balance Rs. 15,000.00 within six months from the date of registration.

The Course:

The CAP-II Level comprises 7 papers divided into two groups as follows:

Group I

Group II

Paper 1.

Advanced Accounting

100 Marks

Paper 4.

Financial Management

100 Marks

Paper 2.

Audit and Assurance

100 Marks

Paper 5.

Cost and Management Accounting

100 Marks

Paper 3.

Corporate and Other Laws

100 Marks

Paper 6.

Business Communication and Marketing

100 Marks

Paper 7.

Income Tax and VAT

100 Marks

Eligibility Test:

To be eligible to write the final examination of the CAP-II Level, students are required to pass Eligibility Test as prescribed by ICAN.

Registration deadline:

To be eligible to write the final examination of the CAP-II Level, students are required to pass Eligibility Test as prescribed by ICAN.

The Summer Examination is held in the first week of June and Winter Examination in the first week of December every year. For appearing in Summer Examination, the registration must be completed on or before the end of August of preceding year and for Winter Examination, on or before the end of February. There should be time interval of at least one year between registration and appearance of the CAP-II Level Examination.

What after Completion of CAP-II ?

After successful completion of the CAP-II Level, students shall enroll to the Final Level of the Chartered Accountancy Professional Course.

Chartered Accountancy Professional - III Level:

Eligibility Criteria:

Passed both groups of CAP-II Level Examinations.

Registered as an article trainee under a practicing Chartered Accountant by signing an Articleship Deed. It must however be noted that the Articleship Deed must be submitted to ICAN within one month from the date of signing the deed.

The Fee Structure:

The total fee for the CAP-III Level course is NPR 30,000.00 till 31st Ashadh 2072 and NPR 40,000.00 effective from 1st Shrawan 2072. It can be paid fully at the time of registration or also on Installment basis

50% at the time of Registration and

Balance 50% within one year from the date of registration in Final Level

The fee structure may changed on the need basis of the Council.

Articleship: Practical Training

During the CAP-III Level Course, student should undergo paid articleship for the period of 3 years as an Atricled Trainee under a practicing Chartered Accountant.

The Course:

The CAP-III level comprises 8 papers divided into two groups as follows:

Group I

Group II

Paper 1.

Advanced Financial Reporting

100 Marks

Paper 5.

Management Information System

100 Marks

Paper 2.

Advanced Financial Management

100 Marks

Paper 6.

Advanced Taxation

100 Marks

Paper 3.

Advanced Audit and Assurance

100 Marks

Paper 7.

Advanced Cost and Managment

100 Marks

Paper 4.

Corporate Laws

100 Marks

Paper 8.

Stategic Management and Decision Making Analysis

100 Marks

Eligibility Test:

To be eligible to write the final examination of CAP-III Level, students are required to pass Eligibility Test as prescribed by ICAN.

Examination Eligibility:

The Summer Examination is held in the first week of June and Winter Examination in the first week of December ever y year. For appearing in CA P-III Level Examination a candidate must comply with the following conditions:

Two years elapsed from the date of registration in CAP-III Level. Passed the Eligibility Test Scheme. Completed the prescribed period of Articleship (3 years) or has yet to serve not more than 12 months of Articleship (practical training) prior to the first day of the month in which examination is held.

What after Completion of CAP-III ?

After successful completion of the CAP-III Level course, an Individual should apply for the membership with ICAN. Only those who are the members of ICAN can use the designation "Chartered Accountant" in full or "CA" in brief and can practice Accounting Profession after obtaining Certificate of Practice.

Scholarships

Scholarship Fund

ICAN has established a "Chartered Accountancy Scholarship Fund" in May, 2007. The scholarship shall be awarded to talents and poor students to pursue the Chartered Accountancy Education, who would other wise choose their career in other fields of study due to their poor financial condition.

Establishment of Scholarship Fund

The Scholarship fund can be established by an INDIVIDUAL or CORPORATE ENTITY in their name by depositing the following specified sum.

To establish a scholarship fund in the name of individual, a sum of Rs. 3, 00,000.00 shall be deposited in lump sum or on installment basis within a period of three years from the date of initial contribution.

To establish a scholarship fund in the name of Corporate Entity, a sum of Rs.5,00,000.00 shall be deposited in lumpsum.

If any individual or Corporate Entity instead of contributing the amount in the scholarship fund wishes to finance the students at various level selected by the Scholarship Selection Committee, then they can do so by depositing the required amount in the Scholarship Fund.

Scholarship Schemes

Following types of scholarship shall be awarded to the students.

Full scholarship, which includes complete waive of application, registration & examination fees payable to the ICAN. Apart from the above, the following facilities will be provided, to the students who have received the scholarship, out of the scholarship fund amount.

Study materials

Other materials published by the ICAN

Participation in the Crash Course conducted by the ICAN.

Scholarships announced every year effective from 2007.

Who Can Apply for Scholarship?

Students who have met the following requirement may apply for scholarship.

Chartered Accountancy Professional (CAP)-I Level: those students who have secured 50% or more in PCL or 10 +2 exam may apply for scholarship.

Chartered Accountancy Professional (CAP)-II Level: those who have secured 50% or more in Bachelor or Masters Level Examination or Chartered Accountancy Professional (CAP)-I Level Examination can apply for scholarship.

Chartered Accountancy Professional (CAP)-III Level: those who have passed Chartered Accountancy Professional (CAP)-II/Intermediate Level.

Medals and Awards

ICAN has also been awarding medals and certificates to the merit holder students securing highest marks in different levels of CA Education.

Student Exchange Programme

ICAN has a tradition of sending its s tudents t o student exchange programme organized by the SAFA member bodies such as the Institute ofChartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (ICASL), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB). ICAN students have participated in student exchange program organised by ICAI, ICAP, ICASL and they have also presented technical papers in students conference. This gives the broader vision and exposure to the students of ICAN in an International arena.

Seminar Conference and Counselings

ICAN conducts various Seminars, Workshops, Trainings and Conferences regarding issues relating to financial matters, taxation and other related contemporary topics time to time.

ICAN also participates in different Career fairs and conducts free Chartered Accountancy Education awareness programme to the prospective students in various Colleges and Educational Institutions throughout the length and breadth of the country.

Career Option for Chartered Accountant:

The quality services rendered by Chartered Accountants in corporate sector in National and International area, the demands of Chartered Accaountants increasing day by day in corporate society. Career options for CAs include the followings:

Set up his own practice by obtaining Certificate of Practice (COP)

Join public or private sectors at Managerial and Policy making Level, Join services in NGOs or INGOs

A c t as trustee, executor, administrator valuator, liquidator, advisor, consultant or as a representative for finance matters including taxation, corporate law matters etc

Designing and implementation of accouting system

Undertake capital projects, feasibility studies, project reports etc Certificaton functions and valuator of business. Advise the matters regarding merger and acquisition of business or planning activities and so on.